Is SSSA academically rigorous?

[Anonymous]

Is St. Steven’s St. Agnes academically rigorous? I don’t hear it mentioned much and don’t see many posts about college outcomes. It is convenient for us, but of course I don’t want that to guide our decision.

[Anonymous]

Our experience is with the US. It’s a school that can be more or less rigorous to meet a student’s needs depending on course selection. Almost all core classes have an honors section (a few don’t have honors offered in 9th) and there are a wide diet of AP classes. Most of the teachers are excellent. There are a lot of electives offered and the school doesn’t prioritize one area like athletics or arts—kids can really explore and figure out what they are interested in and pursue those interests. Academic certificate programs are available in world language, STEM, visual or performing arts, or service.

My DC has taken all honors and APs except for the couple of 9th grade classes that don’t have honors sections. It’s been very rigorous and a lot of time and effort, but it’s been very rewarding and DC loves it. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

(Also, it’s St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes—if you’re communicating with the school, it’s worth spelling it correctly.)

[Anonymous]

lol — rereading, that should be a “wide variety of APs,” not a diet of APs. Sorry for typo.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the school essentially an escape hatch for Alexandria families with money who are afraid of their kids mixing with poor and minority Alexandria public school kids? It’s not even remotely in the same league as the best DMV privates.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a fine school for the right child, but "academically rigorous" honestly is not the first thing that pops into my head about that school.

[Anonymous]

Not a SSSAS parent but a local with several friend’s kids who have been happy there. Beautiful facilities and offer an array of rigor and sports for different kinds of students. A touch liberal for some, probably a good fit for many. Solid choice for many if you have the budget.

[Anonymous]

It is definitely competitive with local schools like Flint Hill, Landon, St Andrews, Maret, Bullis. More competitive than PVI, Gonzaga, Bishop Ireton. Easier admit than Potomac, St. Albans and NCS, Sidwell and maybe GDS but on par with everything else. It tends to draw from Alexandria and points south in Virginia and some from Maryland over the Wilson bridge. I work in DC and see lots of magnets for it so it’s as popular as any. It has a ton of APs and excellent teachers. I went to a local private and it’s always been around. For all the newbies that just moved here, it’s not new and it is good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is definitely competitive with local schools like Flint Hill, Landon, St Andrews, Maret, Bullis. More competitive than PVI, Gonzaga, Bishop Ireton. Easier admit than Potomac, St. Albans and NCS, Sidwell and maybe GDS but on par with everything else. It tends to draw from Alexandria and points south in Virginia and some from Maryland over the Wilson bridge. I work in DC and see lots of magnets for it so it’s as popular as any. It has a ton of APs and excellent teachers. I went to a local private and it’s always been around. For all the newbies that just moved here, it’s not new and it is good.

It is not nearly as highly regarded as Maret. And “maybe” an easier admit than GDS? Try “definitely much easier.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is definitely competitive with local schools like Flint Hill, Landon, St Andrews, Maret, Bullis. More competitive than PVI, Gonzaga, Bishop Ireton. Easier admit than Potomac, St. Albans and NCS, Sidwell and maybe GDS but on par with everything else. It tends to draw from Alexandria and points south in Virginia and some from Maryland over the Wilson bridge. I work in DC and see lots of magnets for it so it’s as popular as any. It has a ton of APs and excellent teachers. I went to a local private and it’s always been around. For all the newbies that just moved here, it’s not new and it is good.

It is not nearly as highly regarded as Maret. And “maybe” an easier admit than GDS? Try “definitely much easier.”

So here is the thing. GDS is tough lately. But it’s also a flavor many won’t like so it just doesn’t get the same number of applicants as a place like Potomac or Sidwell. Maret is smaller. Not really in the same zone in terms of size. It’s more like SAES size but Maret is and feels less traditional. Academically it’s fine. It is not as amazing as it wants to be considered. It’s a very try hard place filled with try hards who just missed their first choice. That vibe isn’t great. Lots of people actually choose SSSAS first.

[Anonymous]

Whomever the “expert” is chiming in has no idea what they’re talking about. SSSAS is not in the same zip code in terms of admission as GDS, STA, Maret and Sidwell. Those schools are in the 8-15% acceptance rate while SSSAS is probably at 70% for full pay. Different league (literally and figuratively).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whomever the “expert” is chiming in has no idea what they’re talking about. SSSAS is not in the same zip code in terms of admission as GDS, STA, Maret and Sidwell. Those schools are in the 8-15% acceptance rate while SSSAS is probably at 70% for full pay. Different league (literally and figuratively).

Percentages entirely made up based on PP’s idea of vibes because no schools release that information.

[Anonymous]

Not entirely true. One of the aforementioned released that they had a 12% upper school admit rate (on their school profile).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not entirely true. One of the aforementioned released that they had a 12% upper school admit rate (on their school profile).

That school was not Maret. It accepts way more than Sidwell or GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the school essentially an escape hatch for Alexandria families with money who are afraid of their kids mixing with poor and minority Alexandria public school kids? It’s not even remotely in the same league as the best DMV privates.

Bingo! The only thing it has in common with the best DMV privates is the cost.